Thomas Detry, seeking first PGA Tour win, leads WM Phoenix Open by five shots

USA Today

09-02-2025

Thomas Detry, seeking first PGA Tour win, leads WM Phoenix Open by five shots
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — He carded five birdies and made the turn in 31 during the third round. Thomas Detry then posted three straight pars before sending his tee shot on the par-5 13th into a large cactus. He then took a mighty lash at the ball, punching it out but advancing it only 73 yards. He then hit his third to 27 feet then two-putted for par.
The 13th hole at the WM Phoenix Open is often a birdie opportunity, and many times an eagle, but Detry, saving par Saturday was big. Holding a two-shot lead through 36 holes, he expanded that to four but with the way the field attacks the 13th as well as the 15th, the final two par 5s on the course, you don't want to make bogey.
"Bit of a shame because 13 feels like an easy birdie out there," he said.
One hole later, Detry poured in a 14-foot birdie on perhaps the most challenging hole at TPC Scottsdale and his lead was five, matching his biggest lead. He'd get one more birdie on 17 before parring 18 to sign for a 6-under 65.
He leads a group of four golfers – Jordan Spieth, Rasmus Hojgaard, Daniel Berger and Michael Kim – by five shots with 18 to go. The largest 54-hole lead in this event at the Stadium Course is six, held by four golfers:
Phil Mickelson, 2013
Spencer Levin, 2012
Mark Calcavecchia, 2001
Rocco Mediate, 1999
Mickelson, Calcavecchia and Mediate all went on to win. One of two Belgian's on Tour, he'd be the first from there to win. He'd also be the 14th golfer to make the Phoenix Open his first PGA Tour victory.
"My only win as a pro was the Challenge Tour. I won by 12," he said. As far as looking ahead, Detry admits he can't help it. "It's all about how you deal with those emotions. It's okay to think about it but then try to come back in the present. I think that will be the key for tomorrow. That's what meditation can help you with, like when your mind kind of spirals and goes into the future like that, forward thinking, and that's kind of where you need to be sharp and recognize that moment and going back into the present."
Giving chase is a group that includes Jordan Spieth, who delighted the crowd four years ago with a third-round 61.
A day after he eagled the 13th and 15th holes, he made birdie at both, the second of which got him to 13 under. He then parred 16, 17 and 18 and signed for a 4-under 67.
"I didn't play a lot of messy holes, but I was looking at the board and I thought it was maybe either the last group or I could even drop to the third-to-last group depending on how the finish was, which is a big deal, especially when you're down four, five, six shots. I thought that was big," he said of his big par save at the last. "I knew that I hadn't made a bogey in a while [not since the ninth hole Thursday] so I wanted to keep that streak alive. It was great. I put the ball on the green even when I was out of position today, played the smart shots, and then on 18 I decided not to, so it was nice to make it up."
Daniel Berger, who missed 18 months with a back injury, returned to the Tour at the 2024 American Express. He's missed two cuts in three outings in 2025 but on Saturday, he fired a second straight 66. Berger has worked his way into the final group Sunday alongside leader Detry.
"I don't think he's won out here on the PGA Tour," Berger noted. "I think it's going to be tough for him tomorrow, so hopefully I'm in that final group and I can put some pressure on him early in the round."
Maverick McNealy joined the fun from the back of the pack. He started on No. 10 and made the turn in 3-under 33. He birdied the second and then made four straight birdies on Nos. 5 through 8. One final birdie on the ninth would've meant the first 62 of the week but he made his par, signed for a 63 and sits at 12 under.
Scottie Scheffler, who won at TPC back-to-back in 2022 and 2023, made birdie on 18 to get to 10 under for the week. His third-round 68 marks his 13th straight round in the 60s. He has seven even-par rounds and just one over-par score. Sitting seven shots back with 18 to go, Scheffler is probably too far back to contend.
Tied with Scheffler at 10 under is Monday qualifier Will Chandler. He was one of three golfers who advanced from the final Monday qualifier for this tournament, which had 132 players in the field this year and will have 120 starting in 2026. If Chandler can maintain a spot in the top 10 and ties, he'll parlay that into a start in two weeks at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld.
Playing in the event for the first time, Chandler said he loves the atmosphere.
"I love it. I feel like I'm at a football game, which I love, and I'm playing golf, which I love to do," he said. "It's like a win-win. It's awesome."